A GP from south London has explained the rebellious reasons for wanting to be hunted by the state for a new Channel 4 reality show.

Father-of-three Dr Ricky Allen is one of 14 ‘fugitives’ who will be seen going off the grid and trying to evade capture on Hunted.

The plucky members of the public chose to go on the run for five weeks, giving up their mobile phones, credit cards and any contact with their family or friends for the show.

They were tracked by a team of 12 surveillance experts, both in the headquarters and out in the field, headed up by former City of London Police head of counter terrorism Brett Lovegrove.

Dr Allen said he wanted to take part because of his dislike for authority figures.

He hoped his medical knowledge and camping skills would combine to help him outwit the hunters.

He said: “I have three kids and my family are everything to me. The surveillance state will be a threat to the way they live, their quality of life in the years to come so I’m doing this because the power of the state frightens me and I want to prove that I can beat them.”

You can see how Dr Allen and the others got on when the Hunted series begins tonight at 9pm.